Latitude and Longitude:

Finding Locations onPlanet Earth.

Latitude lines run east/west but they measure north or south of the equator (0°) splitting the earth into the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere.

Latitude

North Pole

South Pole

Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° N at the North Pole.

Lines of latitude are numbered from 0° at the equator to 90° S at the South Pole.

][

90 8070

6050

40

2030

10

9080

70605040

2010

30

Latitude

The North Pole is at 90° N

The equator is at 0° latitude. It is neither north nor south. It is at the center between north and south.

The South Pole is at 90° S

40° N is the 40° line of latitude north of the equator.

40° S is the 40° line of latitude south of the equator.

Longitude

Lines of longitude are numbered east from the Prime Meridian and west from the Prime Meridian.

PRIME MERIDIAN

West L

ongitu

de

East L

ongitu

de

0°

N

EW

S

North Pole

Longitude Lines of longitude begin at the Prime Meridian.

60° W is the

60° line of

longitude west

of the Prime

Meridian.

The Prime Meridian is located at 0°. It is neither east or west

60° E is the 60° line of longitude east of the Prime Meridian.

W E

Prime MeridianThe Prime Meridian (0°) splits the earth into the Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere.

Western Hemisphere

Places located east of the Prime Meridian have an east longitude (E) address. Places located west of the Prime Meridian have a west longitude (W) address.

Eastern Hemisphere

Prime Meridian

Any location north of the equator is a NORTH LATITUDE

Any location south of the equator is a SOUTH LATITUDE

Any location west of the prime meridian is a WEST LONGITUDE

Any location east of the prime meridian is an EAST LONGITUDE

By combining latitude and longitude, any location can be pinpointed

Each box on this map is 15°. With that in mind how can we identify specific locations(red dots)? Remember, write latitude first!

What are the coordinates of location......A

60°N, 30°W

What are the coordinates of location......B

15°S, 105°W

What are the coordinates of location......C

75°S, 75°E

But what about location D ? It’s in the middle of a box. What do we do now?

Here are some things to remember:

> Latitude is written first and must always include N (north) or S (south) of the equator.

> Longitude is written next and must always include E (east) or W (west) of the prime meridian.

See If You Can Tell In Which Hemispheres These Lon/Lats Are

Located

1. 41°N, 21°E

2. 37°N, 76°W

3. 72°S, 141°W

4. 7°S, 23°W

5. 15°N, 29°E

6. 34°S, 151°E

A B

C D

1. B

2. A

3. C

4. C

5. B

6. D

Now you’re ready to find some locations on

a map!